Pharmacy Assisting Degree - Online and Campus Programs

American Career College (ACC) offers hands-on training that will prepare students for careers in the healthcare industry at three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County, California. ACC's programs combine classroom lectures and hands-on training to prepare students for a Diploma or Associate of Occupational Science degree.

We keep education relevant by employing instructors with real-world experience in the field, who bring their career backgrounds to the classroom. Our programs are continually assessed by faculty, staff and members of the business and education communities to help ensure your studies align with your career goals. Programs offered by Brightwood College focus on local employment needs, in areas such as allied health, nursing and technical and professional programs.

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Pharmacy Assistant Studies: Prescription for a High Demand Career

When looking for entry-level pharmacy jobs, the positions of pharmacy aide and pharmacy technician are often confused. Pharmacy aid and pharmacy technician careers are similar in that both:

Assist pharmacists

Find about 75% of available jobs are in retail outlets

Work odd hours that sometimes include nights, weekends, and holidays

Realize the best job opportunities after completing pharmacy assistant or technician programs

However, the differences in their level of responsibilities are substantial. Pharmaceutical assistants handle clerical duties in a pharmacy, such as answering phones, stocking shelves, interacting with customers, and operating cash registers. Pharmacy technicians have more direct responsibility for medications, such as: receiving prescription requests; counting, weighing, and measuring medications, and preparing and affixing medication labels.
Pharmacy assistant or technician studies generally require six months to two years to complete. Pharmacy assistant or technician degrees usually lead to an associate of science. Pharmacy assistant and technician programs are offered at hospitals, community colleges, vocational schools, and through the military.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians offer certification to pharmacy technicians with clean criminal records free of drug or medication related offenses.

Pharmaceutical Aide Salaries and Job Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects much faster than average job growth through 2018 for pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians. On average, pharmaceutical assistants earn $21,500 per year. The middle 50% of pharmaceutical assistants make $17,620 to $24,180 and the top 10% earned $29,660 annually. Pharmacy technicians gross an average salary of $28,500, with the middle 50% bringing in $22,770 to $33,030, and the top 10% of pharmaceutical technicians net almost $40,000.